The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) reports that it registered a further 143 renewables generation facilities with a combined capacity of 1 107 MW and an investment value of more than R23-billion during the third quarter of its 2024/25 financial year.

These latest registrations, which were once again mostly in the form of solar PV facilities, raise the overall number of projects registered since 2018 to 1 811.

One battery energy storage project was also registered in Gauteng during the period.

All told, these Nersa-registered generators have a combined capacity of 10 550 MW and an associated total investment value of more than R202-billion.  

Registrations have increased sharply following changes to Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act in 2021, which initially lifted the licensing requirement for generation projects from 1 MW to 100 MW and subsequently removed the cap entirely.

Nersa said the Western Cape, with 54 registrations in the period, Gauteng with 35, and the North West with 14 recorded the most registrations during the third quarter.

However, the investment value associated with the 627 MW registered in the Limpopo province was the highest at R13.5-billion, spread across seven projects.

A total of 82 of the projects are connected to the Eskom distribution grid, with the 61 balance on municipal networks.

Nersa said it had processed applications within an average of 14 working days during the third quarter, which acting Regulator Member for Electricity Regulation Nomfundo Maseti noted was well ahead of the 30-day requirement.